Bimal Misri and Inder Dev
Regional Research Centre, Indian Grassland
and Fodder Research Institute, Palampur-176 062, India
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INTRODUCTION
Gaddis, the nomadic sheep and goat herders are one of the most important
migratory tribes of the Himalaya. It has been recorded that they migrate
because they have always been shepherds (perhaps, traders too) and for
generations they have been in the habit of moving to find pastures for
their flocks. For them cultivation of crops is less important than the
welfare of their flocks (Anonymous, 1994). Newal (1967), on the contrary,
concludes that the Gaddis are agricultural people who take up other occupations
from occupational necessity rather than desire and it is clear that they
are not principally sheep rearing nomadic people but have been so far hundreds
of years to raise additional means of sustenance. Notwithstanding these
conflicting views, the Gaddis have always been considered as migratory
graziers whose native place of habitation is Bharmour region of Chamba
district in Himachal Pradesh State of India. Some authors consider them
to be of Aryan origin and the original inhabitants of Bharmour region while
others ascribe their origin to immigration from the plains and subsequent
settlement in the hills (Anonymous, 1994). Rawat (1980) believes that due
to land fragmentation and harsh climatic conditions, the Gaddis could not
produce enough for their survival while living in Chamba district. Hence
many of them have established permanent homes in lower regions of Kangra
valley. Even here the tiny homesteads have forced them to maintain the
flocks of goat and sheep to generate extra cash. These Gaddis can be considered
as sedentary since they do not practice transhumance any more and have
adopted many diverse professions (Rawat, 1980). The total sedentrization
of Gaddis can be ascribed to various political and administrative pressures
and availability of diverse professions, besides the enormous difficulties
faced by them during transhumance (Misri 1998) During the British time,
it was believed that the large flocks of Gaddis had done enormous damage
to the vegetation and forest cover. During 1915 the grazing tax levied
on Gaddis was enhanced to discourage them from grazing in the forests and
grasslands. Goat was considered as the greatest enemy of the vegetation
(Rawat 1980). These restrictions and pressures continued unabated and during
1970 the state government froze the size of the flock and for every given
up goat two sheep were allowed to be added to the flock (Verma, 1996).
During post-independence period the government policies lead to the decline
in grazing areas. Planting of forests and allotment of Shamlat lands
to landless squeezed the grazing lands thus forcing the Gaddis to abandon
migratory system. Restrictions in issuing the grazing permits to the Gaddis
further added to their sedenterization.
A survey was undertaken
to understand the present socio – economic status, livestock rearing practices
and feeding strategies adopted by the sedentary Gaddis. The survey was
spread over 8 villages situated around Palampur in Kangra District. This
paper aims at presenting the findings of the survey.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eight villages, Dhoong, Kulani, Lehnga, Bharmat, Nain, Gohar, Spadoo
and Lohna were selected for the study. These villages have considerable
population of sedentary Gaddis. The respondents were selected at random
and sample size varied from 20 –40 families each village, depending upon
the population of Gaddis. A questionnaire listing 23 aspects to be surveyed
was prepared and information was noted down in field books. The quantitative
data were analyzed and are presented in averages or percentages.
RESULTS
Out of 23 aspects enumerated under present investigation, six pertained
to evince information about the reasons leading to sedenterization. The
questions, thus, asked were :1) how long you have been living here 2) when
your family left migration 3) why did you stop migration 4) Does anybody
from your family still migrate 5) would you again adopt migration, if given
a chance 6) which system is better, migratory or sedentary. For the first
four questions hundred percent respondents in all the eight villages had
a standard answer, "we don’t know". This amply indicated that they have
been sedentary for quite sometime. Only thirty five percent respondents
in all the eight villages showed their inclination to migrate to Bharmour
region but they did not wish to adopt migratory system of animal rearing.
The main attractions of Bharmour region, as enumerated by the respondents
are: remunerative horticulture and the scheduled tribe status of Gaddis
living in that area which in turn bestows reservation and other benefits
from the Government. Hundred percent respondents in the entire eight villages
preferred sedentary system to the migratory system. Information gathered
on- other aspects are presented below under separate headings.
SOCIO–ECONOMIC PROFILE
Literacy
The literacy percentage of the area is significantly high. Maximum
literacy percentage of 94.74 % was found in village Lohna while Bharmat
and Gohar followed by 77.31 and 72.9% respectively. Lehnga had the minimum
literacy percentage of 50.72%. The major reason for high literacy rate
can be the proximity of all these villages to Palampur, which has very
good educational facilities. However, each village had its own school/schools
as well. The details of socio-economic profile are presented in Table 1.
Family Structure
The sedentary Gaddis have, comparatively, small families and the people
are well aware of the need to have lesser children. This could be correlated
to the high literacy rate of the area. The highest number of members (6.27)
per family was found in village Lehnga. It was followed by Spadoo (5.90)
and Gohar 95.70). The least number of children per family (1.44/family)
were found in Kulani.
Land Holding
The land holding is very small in the area. Eighty nine percent families
in the area can not produce enough from their lands to sustain them. They
have to purchase additional food grains from open market or the fair price
shops established in the area by the government. Biggest average land holding
of 0.52 ha was found in village Bharmat. The entire land holding is not
cultivated. Either some portion which is not crop worthy is left for grazing
or a portion of arable land is deliberately left uncultivated to produce
herbage for the livestock. This fact amply illustrates the Gaddis’s concern
for his animals. In Bharmat 76 % of the land holding (0.40 ha/family) was
put under cultivation. The highest proportion of land holding 51.85% left
for grassland was found in village Dhoong.
Milk Production
The milch animals are essentially reared for the consumption of milk
by the family. The average milk production/family ranges between 3.3 –
5.90 lt. Only 23 percent families in the area sell a part of the milk produced.
Lehnga village leads in
wool production where a family produces an average of 115kg wool /year.
It is followed by Dhoong (40.87 kg/family) and Kulani (13.8 kg/ family).
In other villages wool is not produced.
Sale of Sheep and Goat
Sale of sheep and goats contributes significantly to the family income
of medium and large herd owners. Gaddis belonging to Lehnga village lead
in the area in sales of sheep and goat. Each family sells an average of
220 sheep and 240 goats/year @ Rs 1400 and 1750 respectively.
Annual Family Income
It was very difficult to extract the realistic information about the
family income. No one keeps the accounts of sundry sales of milk or animals
in small numbers. Besides, everybody was reluctant to divulge the family
income. On being assured that the information will be kept a secret, round
about figures were provided. Gaddis from village Lehnga are the richest
with an average annual income of Rs 64,227.27/family. Gaddis of Gohar (average
annual income Rs 55,500/family/year) and Dhoong (average annual income
Rs 38,625/family/year) follow them.
Table 1: Socio-Economic profile of Sedentary Gaddis
| Aspect |
|
|||||||
|
Dhoong
|
Kulani
|
Lehnga
|
Bharmat
|
Nain
|
Gohar
|
Spadoo
|
Lohna
|
|
| Literacy (%) |
65
|
51.21
|
50.72
|
77.31
|
70.83
|
72.9
|
72.0
|
94.74
|
| Av. Member /family |
5.65
(1-16) |
4.55
(2-9) |
6.27
(4-5) |
5.10
(4-9) |
4.8
(2-6) |
5.7
(5-7) |
5.90
(3-14) |
4.4
(4-5) |
| Average no. of children/family |
2.70
(1-6) |
1.44
(1-3) |
2.09
(2-4) |
1.52
(Nil-3) |
1.7
(0-3) |
1.8
(1-3) |
2.3
(1-4) |
2.6
(2-3) |
| Av. Land (ha) holding/family |
0.42
(.08-4) |
0.34
(0.2-0.4) |
0.31
(0.12- 0.6) |
0.52
(0.2-1.0) |
0.4
(0.5-1) |
0.25
(0.16-0.04) |
0.2
(0.12-0.32) |
0.38
(0.24-0.48) |
| Av. Cultivated land/family (ha) |
0.27
(.08-2) |
0.26
(0.1-0.4) |
0.24
(0.08-0.52) |
0.40
(0.16-0.8) |
0.13
(0.16-0.8) |
0.21
(0.12-0.36) |
0.17
(0.12-0.28) |
0.32
(0.2-0.4) |
| Av. Grassland area/family (ha) |
0.14
(0.04-2) |
0.08
(0.04-0.2) |
0.06
(0.04-0.24) |
0.11
(0.04-0.2) |
0.1
(0.04-0.2) |
0.04
(0.04-0.08) |
0.04
(0.04-0.08) |
0.06
(0.04-0.08) |
| Av. Milk (Lt.) production/family/day |
5.03
(3-12) |
4.3
(3-7) |
5.90
(3-10) |
4
(3-5) |
3.5
(3-5) |
3.3
(3-4) |
3.5
(3-4) |
4.6
(4-6) |
| Av. Wool (Kg) production/family/annum |
40.87
(7-500 ) |
13.8
(125-700) |
115
(80-700) |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Av. Sale of sheep/year/family (Nos) |
3.70
|
12.50
|
220
|
-
|
-
|
37.5
|
-
|
-
|
| Av. Sale of goat/year/family (Nos.) |
5.41
|
12.50
|
240
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Av. Sale price of each sheep (RS) |
1327.27
|
1350.00
|
1400.00
|
-
|
-
|
1350
|
-
|
-
|
| Av. Sale price of each goat (RS) |
1354.54
|
1650.00
|
1750.00
|
-
|
1500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Av. Annual income (RS) |
38,625
(4000-200000) |
36,333
(15,000-60,000) |
64,227.27
(11,500- 2,50,000) |
33,400
(15,000- 80,000) |
28,450
(15000- 70,000) |
55,500
(20,000-150,000) |
33,900
(12000 - 150, 000) |
32,600
(18000-50,000) |
Cropping Pattern
Cultivation consists of seven crop sequences in the area. These are:
1) Maize – Wheat + Barley 2)Wheat – Maize + Rice 3) Wheat – Maize 4)
Wheat- Rice 5) Barley 6) Wheat + Barley – Maize + Rice 7) Rice – Maize.
The cropping pattern is
not essentially dependent upon resource availability; it is more so on
the food preferences of the local people. Even the irrigated areas are
sown during Kharif under maize by some Gaddis since they prefer maize to
rice. A maximum of 100 percent families in Lohna village practice wheat
– Maize + Rice crop sequence. A minimum number of 5 percent families in
Bharmat sow wheat – Maize rotation. The details about the cropping pattern
of the area are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Cropping Pattern (Adoption by % families)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dhoong |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kulani |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lehnga |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bharmat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gohar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Spadoo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lohna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professions
The Gaddis in the study area have adopted many diverse professions.
18 types of professions have been recorded in the area. Out of these sheep
rearing, daily wage earning by labour, autorickshaw driving, government
job and farming have been adopted as solo professions, rest of the 14 professions
are in various combinations (Table 3). The maximum percent families of
54 have adopted farming and daily wage earning as their profession in Spadoo
village. 40.62 percent families in Dhoong survive only on daily wage earning.
The profession of sheep rearing and establishment of a small-scale industry
were only found in village Spadoo. Similarly auto – rickshaw driving adopted
by 3.12 percent families was found only in village Dhoong. Families surviving
only on pension provided to ex-servicemen of the Indian Army were found
only in Gohar and Spadoo.
Table 3: Professions adopted by sedentary Gaddis (% of families)
| Profession |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sheep rearing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Daily wage earning |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sheep rearing + Daily wage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Auto Driver |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sheep rearing + Govt. Job |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Govt. Job |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Govt. Job + SSI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + Daily wage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sheep rearing + farming |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pension as Ex-ser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + Business |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + pension as Ex-ser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + Govt Job |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + private job- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + Army service |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sheep rearing + SSI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farming + SSI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Animal Rearing Practices
Animal rearing is an important sole or supplementary profession for
the Gaddis of the study area. In four villages i.e.; Dhoong, Kulani, Lehnga
and Bharmat 6.26, 22.23, 9.1 and 5.0 % families did not rear any animal.
Cows, bulls, goats, Sheep and Buffalo are the only animals reared in the
area. Buffalo was found only in four villages listed above. All the families
rearing animals had atleast one cow each. The average numbers of livestock
owned by a family in the study area are given in Table 4. The highest number
of 87.20-animals/ family was found in village Gohar and the number of 1.90
animals/family were found in village Spadoo. Others details about the livestock
are given below.
Table 4: Average No. of Livestock/family
| Village | Cows | Bulls | Goats | Sheep | Buffalo | Total |
| Dhoong | 1.32 | 0.51 | 21.0 | 19.0 | 0.19 | 42.02 |
| Kulani | 1.37 | 1.0 | 12.75 | 1.12 | 0.25 | 16.49 |
| Lehnga | 1.72 | 0.18 | 44.09 | 30.54 | 0.18 | 76.71 |
| Bharmat | 1.70 | 1.0 | - | - | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| Nain | 1.20 | 1.10 | 2.7 | - | - | 5.0 |
| Gohar | 1.0 | 1.20 | - | 85.0 | - | 87.20 |
| Spadoo | 1.0 | 0.90 | - | - | - | 1.90 |
| Lohna | 1.25 | 1.0 | - | - | - | 2.25 |
Herd Structure
The herd structure found in the area is very diverse. As many as ten
types of herds were enumerated in the area, these are: 1) only cow 2) Cow
+ Bull + Goat 3) Cow + Bull +Sheep 4) Cow + Sheep +Goat 5) Cow +Goat 6)
Cow + Bull + Sheep +Goat 7) Cow + Sheep 8) Cow + Bull 9) Cow + Bull + Buffalo
10) Cow + Bull + Buffalo +Sheep +Goat. The percentage presence of various
animals in different herds varies from village to village. The significant
feature is that all the herds have cow as a common component. The maximum
percentage of cows (56.25 %) was found in herds of Bharmat. The percentage
composition of various types of herds is presented in Table 5. The details
about percent families owning different types of herds are presented in
Table 6. Maximum number of diverse herds was found in Dhoong where Gaddis
had 9 types of herds. In Lohna 100% families reared only cows and Bulls.
Feeding Pattern
The feeding of animals is clearly demarcated in three stages in the
study area. These stages coincide with the availability of green /dry forage
and tree leaves. These three stages are:
Dec – April: Tree leaf fodder (green) + hay/crop
residues @ 10-12 kg/animal/day
May – June: Wheat straw + green grass/ only
wheat straw/wheat straw + Tree leaf Fodder @ 10 kg/animal/day.
July- Nov: Green grass/Freshly
conserved hay @ 20-25 kg/animal/day.
The feeding regime described
above is in supplementation to the grazing which is most common in the
area. At the onset of monsoon (late June) the grasslands, both private
and community, are closed to grazing. During monsoon green grass is stall
fed to the livestock. This continues till October when the grasslands are
harvested and the herbage is conserved as hay. After the harvest, grasslands
are opened for indiscriminate grazing which continues till the coming monsoon
(late June).
Hundred percent families’
face fodder shortage in the area. Hay and crop residues are insufficient
and the shortages are made up by purchasing wheat straw which is transported
from Panjab to these villages.
The tree leaf use is very
common and the farmers in the area have devised fodder tree use calendars.
This, perhaps is a traditional management tool or a system to avoid the
tree leaf use when the anti-quality factors are active in these. A typical
fodder tree use calendar of the area is
April – June: Albizzia
lebbeck, Artocarpus chaplasha, Ficus auriculata, F. racemosa, Leucaena
leuocephala,
Morus alba.
July – October: Grazing
Nov – March: Bauhinia variegata, Dendrocalamus
hamiltonii, Grewia optiva, Terminalia alata.
Table 5: Herd Structure (%)
| Herd |
|
|||||||
| Dhoong | Kulani | Lehnga | Bharmat | Nain | Gohar | Spadoo | Lohna | |
| C+ B + G | - | - | - | 9.09- 13.63 - 77.28 | - | - | - | - |
| C+ B + S | 0.4 - 0.6 - 98.9 | - | - | - | - | 0.4 - 0.9 - 98.7 | - | - |
| C+ S + G | 1.2 -59.3 - 39.48 | 0.99 - 54.45 - 44.56 | - | - | 8.5 - 17.39 - 73.91 | - | - | - |
| C + G | 55.55 - 44.45 | 33.33 - 66.67 | - | - | 10 - 90 | - | - | - |
| C+B+S+G | 2.04 - 2.72 - 51.02 - 44.21 | - | 1.07 - 47.72 - 51.21 | - | - | - | - | - |
| C+S | 40 -60 | - | - | - | - | 1 - 99 | - | - |
| C + B | 33.33 - 66.67 | 50-50 | - | 56.25-43.75 | 46 - 54 | 36 - 64 | 37-63 | 53 - 47 |
| C + B + BF | 27.27 - 36.36 - 36.37 | 33.33 - 33.33 - 33.33 | 33.33 - 33.33 - 33.33 | 50 - 25 - 25 | - | - | - | - |
| C+B+BF+S+G | 3.57 - 3.57 -3.57 - 35.71 - 53.58 | - | - | - | - | - | - | -
|
Table 6: Animal rearing profile of sedentary Gaddis
| Village |
|
||||||||||
| Nil | C+B+G | C+B+S | C | C+G | C+S+G | C+B+S+G | C+S | C+B | C+B+BF | C+B+B+F+S+G | |
| Dhoong | 6.26 | - | 6.25 | 31.2 | 12.5 | 18.7 | 6.25 | 3.12 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 3.12 |
| Kulani | 22.23 | - | - | 11.1 | 11.1 | 11.1 | - | - | 44.44 | 11.11 | - |
| Lehnga | 9.1 | - | - | 45.45 | - | 36.36 | - | - | - | 9.09 | - |
| Bharmat | 5 | 10 | - | 20 | 5 | - | - | - | 60 | - | - |
| Nain | - | 20 | - | 20 | 10 | - | - | - | 50 | - | - |
| Gohar | - | - | 40 | 10 | - | - | - | 20 | 30 | - | - |
| Spadoo | - | - | - | 45 | - | - | - | - | 55 | - | - |
| Lohna | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100 | - | - | |
CONCLUSIONS
The sedentary Gaddis, inspite of having left transhumance long back,
still consider livestock rearing an important aspect of their life. This
might be because of economic reasons but the importance of animal raring
remains unchanged in the socio-economic profile of Gaddis. There has been
a remarkable progression in various facets like literacy and family planning.
All the respondents were very receptive and ready to adopt new technologies
for farming and livestock management. However, in order to understand the
livestock rearing systems of the area and make them a sustainable biomass
availability base following needs to be done.
Misri, B. 1998. Migratory system of goat and sheep rearing in Himachal Pradesh India. Proc.3rd., meeting/workshop of Temp. Asia Pasture and Fodder Network. Pokhara: 32-49
Newal, W.H. 1967. Report on scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Census of India 1961, Vol XX part V-B Delhi.
Rawat, A.S 1980 (Ed). History of Forestry in India New Delhi.
Verma, V. 1996 Gaddis of Dhauladhar. Indus Publishing Co. New Delhi pp 149.
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